Gujarat Ricin Plot: ISIS Planned To Poison Drinking Water, Temple Prasad, Say Sources | Exclusive

Last Updated:November 10, 2025, 14:42 IST

Ricin, which can be extracted from castor seeds, is of concern as the raw material is easily available and not typically associated with terrorism, making it difficult to detect

Dr Ahmed Mohiuddin Syed, an MBBS graduate who studied in China and was working in Hyderabad, along with two associates---Mohd Suhel and Azad Suleman Saifi from Uttar Pradesh were arrested. (News18)

Indian intelligence agencies have warned that the Islamic State (ISIS) and its regional affiliates are shifting from traditional, bomb-based attacks to biochemical and psychological forms of terror, following increased security pressure and international crackdowns on explosive networks.

Senior intelligence officials told CNN-News18 that the evolving strategy, described as a move from “kinetic to non-kinetic terror", aims to create widespread fear and social unrest rather than mass casualties. The warning comes in the wake of a major counter-terror operation in Gujarat, where police claim to have foiled an ISIS-inspired plot involving the use of ricin, a highly toxic compound derived from castor seeds.

According to Gujarat Police, investigators arrested Dr Ahmed Mohiuddin Syed, an MBBS graduate who studied in China and was working in Hyderabad, along with two associates—Mohd Suhel and Azad Suleman Saifi from Uttar Pradesh. The trio allegedly planned to extract ricin and use it to contaminate public water sources and temple prasad (food offerings) in Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow.

Officials said the case represents an alarming example of what security agencies are calling “medical radicalisation"—the recruitment or ideological influence of technically skilled individuals for terror plots.

“ISIS is possibly shifting from kinetic, bomb-based operations to biochemical and psychological terror," sources said. “The idea is to cause panic, create distrust in the government, and exploit communal sensitivities."

Investigators say Pakistan-based ISI facilitators and ISIS-Khorasan (ISKP) handlers have been exploring bio-terror modules since at least 2021. Multiple intelligence interceptions have pointed to discussions on chemical and biological agents, officials said.

Ricin, which can be extracted from castor seeds, is of particular concern because the raw material is easily available and not typically associated with terrorism, making it difficult to detect through conventional financial or procurement tracking systems.

A source said the accused were under surveillance after their online activities and communications linked them to ISIS propaganda channels. Their alleged goal, the official added, was to “infect and contaminate human targets at scale" using undetectable methods.

Intelligence inputs suggest that the group’s objective may not have been mass killing but rather to spark public panic and erode trust in state institutions.

“They knew the impact might be limited in terms of casualties, but the psychological effect could be far greater," they said. “If communal angles were attached, it could have triggered unrest and distrust."

Officials said this represents a new phase in ISIS’s strategy—one focusing on psychological and societal destabilisation rather than high-intensity bombings.

The accused have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and investigations are being conducted jointly by Gujarat Police and central intelligence agencies.

Authorities are now examining whether the suspects had any direct coordination with Pakistan-based handlers or were part of a wider network experimenting with non-explosive terror methods.

Officials said the case highlights the need for enhanced vigilance over unconventional terror tools, particularly among professionals with scientific or medical expertise.

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

News india Gujarat Ricin Plot: ISIS Planned To Poison Drinking Water, Temple Prasad, Say Sources | Exclusive

Read More